Fertilizer-distributer.



1.1. MCDONALD.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER. APPLICATION F ILED MAY 18. 1914.

1 ,1 58,700. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

WITNESSES/1% I WO/Zfl %IIII;' 2mm JOHN J. MoDONALD, or MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA.

rnnrimznn-msrnrnnrnn.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJOHN J. MCDONALD, a citizen of the United States,.residing at Milpitas, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Fertilizer-Distributers, of which the following is a specificatlon.

This invention relates to a fertilizing device and pertains especially to a fertilizer distributer for use in strawberry fields, and elsewhere where the fertilizer must be care fully deposited and as carefully covered over without injury to the plants, or the covering up of any of the foliage of the plants. In cultivating the strawberry plants, which lie very close to the ground, it is particularly necessary that none of the fertilizer or earth be thrown upon the leaves or plants. as it will cause their destruction.

The object of the invention is to provide a cultivator device, which will distribute and cover a fertilizer at the sides of a ditch running between two rows of strawberry plants and adjacent to the roots of the plants, without disturbing the plants or covering them.

The invention consists of the parts and the combination and construction of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the mode of application of the invention. 1

Strawberries are usually grown in :hills indicated at A; there being two rows of plants 2 on each hill and the hills separated by an irrigating ditch 8. This cultivator is designed to run in a ditch and to deposit a fertilizer at one side and close to the roots of the plants, as at 4.

The apparatus itself is made adjustable as to'width according to the distance between two adjacent hills, and includes a beam 10,.

' Specification of Letters Patent." P t t N 2, 1915 Application filedeMay 18 1914. Serial No. 839,274.

two of these feed boxes and feed connections, one for each hoe, and they are mounted on a crossrbar 10 on the beam 10. Each box contains an agitator 19 mounted on a shaft 20, and this shaft is driven at variable speed according to the rate of distribution of fertilizer needed, by suitable means, as to the step sprockets 21 and chain 22, running down to the front ground wheel 23. In order to keep the ground wheel in close con tact with the ground, the whiflietree or trac tion means is attached. at a relatively high pomdt as 24, so that the pull is always downwar r The adjustable beams 11 are for the purpose of adapting the hoes or plows to rows or hills of different spacing. The refilling of the furrows made by the plows 15 is done by an adjustable A-shaped scraper 25, which is operated by a hand-wheel 26, similar to wheel 13; the scraper being made in two sections hinged at the apex as shown at 27.

The adjustment of the scraper sections 25 depends on the distance apart of the hoes or plows 16; with wider spaced rows the hoes are farther apart, and where the rows are closer together thehoes are moved in accordingly; the scrapers 25 in all cases being adapted to throw outward the earth, so as to cover the fertilizer and deposit it in the furrows made by the hoes 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the hoes or plows simultaneously open fur rows, the flexible conduits deposit the fertilizer simultaneously in the furrows, and the adjustable scraper 25 simultaneously closes the fertilized furrows.

It is manifest that various changes may be made in the details of the invention without departing from the principle thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A fertilizer distributer comprising an apparatus having a pair of furrow openers adjustable toward and from each other, means for depositing fertilizer simultaneously in each furrow so opened, and an adj ustable scraper in a plane between said furrow openers for simultaneously closing both furrows, said scraper comprising a pair of hinged sections adjustable about a vertical ivot. p 2. A fertilizer distributer comprising a main beam having a ground wheel mounted on its forward end, a furrow opener mounted on each sideof the main beam,a fertilizing container mounted above each furrow opener, meansfor conveying said fertilizer to the furrows, a revoluble agitator mounted in each contalner, a drlvlng connectlon formed between the agitators and the front wheel, and a scraper centrally mounted behind the furrow openers to close the furrowsJ 8. A fertilizer distributer comprising a mam beam, a hinged beam at each side of the mainbeam, means for adjusting the position of said beams with relation to the main beam, a furrow opener mounted on Copies of this Patent may be obtained for each hinged side beam, means for depositing fertilizer simultaneously in each furrow so opened, and an adjustable scraper carried by said main beam and'adjustable independ ently of said side beams for: closing both furrows.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 7 1 

